Andy Murray vs Nikoloz Basilashvili LIVE RESULTS: Murray WINS epic five-setter to make Australian Open second round

ANDY MURRAY has won a five-setter at the Australian Open against world No 21 Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Murray has reached the final four times in Melbourne, but until today had not made it past round one since 2017.

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Follow ALL of the latest updates below….

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 08:16

  Night vision

  Melbourne Park is getting ready for the night games now – and that features US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

  She's second on Margaret Court Arena against Sloane Stephens after a men's match, so probably a couple hours from now.

  No 2 seed in the women's draw Sabalenka is on Arthur Ashe tonight with fourth-seeded Greek Tsitsipas also in action over there.

  And on John Cain Arena, there's a fun one between Liam Broady and the always entertaining Nick Kyrgios.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 08:13

  Andy says

  "It's been a tough three or four years. I've put in a lot of work to get back here. I've played on this court many times and the atmosphere is incredible. I've always had fantastic support.

  "I thought I'd played my last match here three years ago but it's amazing to be back and to win a five-set match like that. I can't ask for any more than that.

  "I would love to have a deep run here if possible. It's something that I've not had in a slam since I came back from injury and it's motivating me.

  "I've played some of my best tennis here and am very comfortable here so hopefully I can do it in this tournament."

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 08:09

  Match stats

  99 unforced errors from Basilashvili. NINETY NINE!

  

  

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 08:07

  MURRAY WINS!

  Andy Murray has won a thriller. The final groundstroke falls into the net from Basilashvili and the five-time finalist here can celebrate.

  6-1 3-6 6-4 6-7 6-4 in 3hrs and 52mins.

  What a game on John Cain Arena.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 08:01

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 *4-5 Murray

  Massive hold for Murray. His shirt is drenched in sweat as we tick closer to the four-hour mark.

  But he's just one good return game away from winning this first-round epic.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:57

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 4-4* Murray

  Huge, impressive serving from Basilashvili to drag us level in the deciding set.

  He was 0-30 down and in trouble before hammering down a few rocket serves.

  Pressure back on Murray now.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:51

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 *3-4 Murray

  Back on serve! A brilliant rally and an even better cross court backhand from Basilashvili to finish it off.

  Murray was livid at missing twice into the left hand tramline and they proved costly.

  

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:46

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 2-4* Murray

  One game back for the Georgian as he holds to 30.

  Murray needs just two more service holds for a marathon victory.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:42

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 *1-4 Murray

  And another one. A hold to love in no time at all for Murray.

  He pumps his fist as he marches back to his seat just two games from glory.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:40

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 1-3* Murray

  Another rapid service game and this time Basilashvili holds.

  He's on the board in the fifth set.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:39

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 *0-3 Murray

  He's halfway home! Three games down and three to go for Murray in the final set.

  Another comfortable hold.

  

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:37

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 0-2* Murray

  A break of serve! Murray has his nose in front.

  What an effort from Murray. Basilashvili just can't maintain any sort of momentum.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:36

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 *0-1 Murray

  Just what Murray needed. A comfortable break to open the fifth set after losing that fourth-set battle.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:26

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 Murray

  We're going the distance on John Cain Arena!

  A brilliant tiebreak from Basilashvili as he storms it to take the fourth set.

  What has Murray got left in the tank after three hours on court?

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:19

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 6-6 Murray

  An outrageous backhand winner up the line from Basilashvili and he has the upper hand in the tiebreak.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:17

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 6-6 Murray

  A timely ace and a tiebreak it is!

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:16

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 6-5* Murray

  So Basilashvili has done all he can in this set to make sure he at least gets a crack at a tiebreak.

  Can Andy hold serve and join him there?

  

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:09

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 *5-5 Murray

  Wow! What a hold from Murray having faced break point that was also a point.

  Basilashvili doesn't really know what more he can do to break Murray here.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 07:00

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 5-4* Murray

  Gutsy from Basilashvili. He holds on and forces Murray to serve to stay in the set.

  A big roar from him as well, we don't normally see that.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 06:56

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 *4-4 Murray

  Murray holds… and he's level in the fourth set. A massive effort from 4-2 down to get back on terms as soon as possible.

  Now the pressure is back on the Georgian.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 06:51

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 4-3* Murray

  Just when you think you know what's going on…

  Murray breaks back!

  Really strange play from Basilashvili to try and lure him in with a drop shot and then go for a lob.

  We're back on serve in the fourth set.

  

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 06:48

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 *4-2 Murray

  It's a break of serve! That looked like it had been coming.

  Murray's resilience just ran out in that game and the Georgian moves ahead in the fourth set.

  How's that 91 per cent win predictor now?

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 06:41

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 3-2* Murray

  Strong serving from Basilashvili and he keeps his nose in front in this set.

  He looks calm and composed as if he's freed up to just play his game, knowing this match is well and truly in his opponent's favour.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 06:37

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 *2-2 Murray

  A huge hold from Murray. He saves a break point on his way to levelling this fourth set again.

  The adrenaline is pumping and so are the fists. Not mine, Andy's.

• Sunni Upal18th Jan 2022, 06:31

  Basilashvili 1-6 6-3 4-6 2-1* Murray

  A testing game but a strong hold from Basilashvili.

  He's not going away without a fight here, Murray still has plenty of work to do.

  That 91 per cent win percentage is a tad too generous for Murray at this stage.

  

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